PAC-5 DIVISION
Last year’s champion: St. John Bosco, defeated Mater Dei, 34-7
Seeded teams: No. 1 St. John Bosco; 2. JSerra; 3. Centennial of Corona; 4. Long Beach Poly
Championship game: Saturday, Dec. 7, at Angel Stadium
5 Predictions for the Pac-5 Division
*Teams listed in order of how they appear on the playoff bracket.
ST. JOHN BOSCO
9-1 overall, 5-0 Trinity League (#1)
Outlook: Top-seeded Bosco again appears to be the class of the classiest division. The Braves’ defense will give up points, but no team’s offense can hang with their’s. They will win their high-scoring games in these playoffs.
Player to watch: Sean McGrew, Jr., RB. He will get first downs and touchdowns and is one of the better kick returners in the division.
Others to watch: Josh Rosen, Sr., QB; Joey Chenoweth, Sr., WR; Kaylin Franklin, Sr., WR; Dennis Willis, Sr., LB.
CABRILLO OF LONG BEACH
4-6 overall, 4-2 Moore League (#3)
Outlook: The Jaguars started the season 0-5, including nonleague losses to JSerra and St. Bonaventure and a league-opening loss to Long Beach Poly. They might be the biggest longshot in the league, which is why the Jaguars are playing top-seeded St. John Bosco in the first round.
Player to watch: Michael Lovett III, Sr., QB: He rushed for 985 yards and 11 touchdowns, and passed for 889 yards, during the regular season.
Others to watch: Rico Martin, Sr., WR; Jeremy Buckhoy, Jr., WR; Dominique Leggett, ., LB.
NORCO
5-5 overal, 4-1 in Big VIII League (#2)
Outlook: The Cougars have a first-round home game against another No. 2 team, St. Bonaventure of the Marmonte League. They had won four league games by comfortable margins before losing by 41 points to Centennial in the regular-season finale. Consider Norco an underdog to St. Bonaventure.
Player to watch: Victor Viramontes, Jr., QB. He has 15 touchdown passes against only two interceptions.
Others to watch: Cameron Sutton, Sr., WR; Gaven Hughes, Jr., RB
ST. BONAVENTURE OF VENTURA
6-4 overall, 2-1 Marmonte League (#2)
Outlook: The Seraphs finished second to Westlake. Their losses were to good teams: Helix of La Mesa; JSerra; Upland; and Westlake. St. Bonaventure might get the road win against Norco, but mighty St. John Bosco is the likely second-round opponent.
Player to watch: Ricky Town, Sr., QB. The USC commit is considered to be one of the top quarterbacks in California.
Others to watch: Marcus Chambers, Sr., RB; Ladell Atkins, So., WR
CRESPI OF ENCINO
8-1 overall, 5-1 Mission League (#1)
Outlook: The Celts, coached by ex-Servite coach Troy Thomas, finished in a three-way tie for first place with Serra and Bishop Amat. They lost big to Mission Viejo in the first round last year but should fare better this season. Crespi’s only loss was by one point to Serra. They have won three in a row since. Thomas won’t let Crespi take Santa Margarita lightly in its first-round home game.
Player to watch: Torrance Brumfeld, Sr., RB/LB. Not only will he lead the Celts’ strong rushing game, Brumfeld can be counted upon to get after the opposing quarterback, too, on defense.
Others to watch: Jalen Starks, Sr., RB; Wes Massett, Sr., QB
SANTA MARGARITA
6-4 overall, 2-3 league (Trinity at-large)
Outlook: The Eagles are one of two Trinity teams to get the division’s two at-large berths; Servite is the other. Their reward is a first-round away game against Mission League co-champion Crespi. A win at Crespi would be an upset, but Santa Margarita already has beaten a Mission co-champ, Bishop Amat.
Player to watch: Kyle Sweet, Sr., WR/DB. Sweet might be the best all-around player in Orange County. He also returns kicks, and is the Eagles place-kicker and punter.
Others to watch: KJ Costello, Jr., QB; Conner Bianchini, Sr., WR; Grady Higgins, Sr., LB.
LONG BEACH POLY
9-1 overall, 6-0 Moore League (#1)
Outlook: The third-seeded Jackrabbits rolled through the Moore League, as expected. Some feel that Poly’s existence in the league is the only reason the league is in the Pac-5 Division. The Jackrabbits average margin of victory in league was 54 points. They have not played a good team in a few weeks, but Poly’s speed on both sides of the football can beat just about anybody.
Player to watch: Josh Love, Sr., QB. He has thrown for 2,479 yards and has a quarterback rating of 133.8.
Others to watch: Iman Marshall, Sr.; WR; Jeremy Calhoun, Sr., RB; Jackie Jones, Jr., WR.
SERVITE
4-6 overall, 1-4 Trinity League (at-large)
Outlook: The Friars got one of the division’s two at-large berths because the at-large selection formula favored Servite’s strength of schedule. No county team played a schedule as rigorous as Servite’s. If quarterback Travis Waller can throw for first downs and run for them, too, the Friars could beat Long Beach Poly in the first round.
Player to watch: Travis Waller, Sr., QB. If the Oregon-bound playmaker is healthy and feisty, Poly will have a difficult time containing him.
Others to watch: Tate Beachley, Sr., RB; Maurice Davison, Sr., DB; Equanimeous St. Brown, Sr., WR.
CENTENNIAL OF CORONA
8-2 overall, 5-0 in BIg VIII
Outlook: Coach Matt Logan and the Huskies make their debut in the Southern Section’s premier division. They earned a No. 3 seed and drew another Pac-5 newcomer, Gardena of Serra, as their first-round opponent. “We know what this division is about in terms of quality teams. You have to come out and play every single week,” Logan said Sunday after getting a look at the pairings. Should the Huskies get by Serra, their second-round opponent could be Mater Dei, which beat them in their opener. The Huskies won three of the last four Inland Division titles.
Player to watch: JJ Taylor, Jr, RB. Taylor leads the Pac-5 Division in rushing with 1,657 yards and has 26 touchdowns.
Others to watch: Javon McKinley, Jr., WR; Stephone Hudgens, Sr., DB.
SERRA OF GARDENA
8-2 overall, 5-1 Mission League (#3)
Outlook: The Cavaliers finished in a three-way tie for first place with Crespi and Bishop Amat; coin flips made Serra the league’s No. 3 team which gives them a first-round away game against third-seeded Centennial of Corona. Their league loss was by seven points to Bishop Amat. They beat Crespi by one point and Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks by five, which shows the Cavs can win the type of close game that could be common in this balanced division.
Player to watch: Kalil Tate, Jr., RB. He has rushed for 1,121 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Others to watch: Deontay Burnett, Sr., WR; John Houston, Sr., LB; Oluwole Betiku, Sr., DL
WESTLAKE
8-2 overall, 3-0 Marmonte League (#1)
Outlook: The Warriors’ two losses were to Pac-5 Division playoff teams Mater Dei, by one point, and Long Beach Poly, by 10. They might be playing their best football now, with back-to-back wins over St. Bonaventure and Oaks Christian, so watch out for the Warriors.
Player to watch: Malik Henry, Jr., QB. Among his outstanding efforts was 215 yards and two touchdowns in a crucial league win over St. Bonaventure.
Others to watch: Chase Jasmin, Jr., RB; Andre Baccellia, Sr., WR.
MATER DEI
8-2 overall, 3-2 Trinity League (#3)
Outlook: The Monarchs, Pac-5 Division finalists last year, lost to St. John Bosco and JSerra in league games. They beat Westlake by one point, 28-27, in a nonleague game.
Player to watch: Malik McMorris, Sr., DL/RB. He consistently draws double teams but still makes tackles and sacks. He is a human earthquake when carrying the ball in short-yardage situations.
Others to watch: Ben Humphreys, Sr., LB; Jalen Cole, So., DB; Adrian Contreras, Sr., RB/DB
BISHOP AMAT OF LA PUENTE
7-3, 5-1 Mission League (#2)
Outlook: The Lancers finished in a three-way tie for first, with Crespi and Serra, in the league. Coin-flip results made theme the league’s No. 2 playoff representative. Amat, on a five-game winning streak, got a first-round home game against Lakewood. That’s a team Amat should beat. A potential matchup against JSerra awaits in the second round.
Player to watch: Ryder Ruiz, Jr., QB. He has been a better-than-capable replacement for injured Damian Garcia at quarterback.
Others to watch: Brandon Arconado, Sr., WR; Andrew Vasquez, Jr., DL.
LAKEWOOD
6-4 overall, 5-1 Moore League (#2)
Outlook: The Lancers won their final three league games after a 42-point loss to league-champion Long Beach Poly. They play another league’s No. 2 team, Bishop Amat of the Moore League, in a first-round away game. Amat probably has played tougher competition and is better prepared for the playoffs.
Player to watch: Justin Collins, Sr., QB. When he is on, the Lancers can score against just about anybody.
Others to watch: Victor Bates, So., WR; Jarod Stephens, Sr., DB
JSERRA
9-1 overall, 4-1 Trinity League (#2)
Outlook: This is the second-seeded Lions’ first trip to the playoffs, and what a way to get in. They finished second in the Trinity League with a first-ever win over Mater Dei included. Don’t think this first playoffs experience will have JSerra freaked out. The Lions have proved they can handle the big game.
Player to watch: Nick Robinson, Sr., QB: The two words that best describe him are “leader” and “winner.”
Others to watch: Edward Vander, Jr., RB; Sam Philippi, Sr., WR/DB; David Eugenio, Sr., LB; Luke Wattenberg, Jr., OL
SANTIAGO OF CORONA
6-4 overall, 3-2 Big VIII League (#3)
Outlook: The Sharks had lost consecutive league games to Centennial and Norco before beating Roosevelt of Eastvale by 14 points lats week. They lost a nonleague game to Santa Margarita by 29 points. Santiago’s first-round playoff game is an away game against JSerra, which beat Santa Margarita. So it doesn’t look good for the Sharks.
Player to watch: Blake Barnett, Sr., QB. Barnett committed to Alabama. At 6-foot-5 and 200-pounds, Barnett has the profile of a top quarterback prospect.
Others to watch: Brenden Bixler, Sr., WR; Woody Brandom, Sr., WR; Abraham Berg, Sr., DL.
